Shloka 1
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
अपर - पूर्णपात्रका परिमाण इस प्रकार है--आठ मुदठ्ठी अन्नको 'किंचित” कहते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca |
āśramāṇāṃ mahābāho śṛṇu satyaparākrama |
caturṇām api nāmāni karmāṇi ca yudhiṣṭhira ||
भीष्म ने कहा—हे सत्यपराक्रमी महाबाहु युधिष्ठिर! अब सुनो। मैं तुम्हें चारों आश्रमों के नाम और उनके-उनके कर्तव्य यथावत् बताता हूँ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma introduces a structured account of āśrama-dharma: the four life-stages and the specific duties (karmāṇi) appropriate to each, presenting dharma as an ordered, role-based discipline.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to the newly enthroned Yudhishthira, Bhishma begins a new section by inviting him to listen as he enumerates the four āśramas and explains their respective obligations.